A crisp winter Sunday morning on my beloved mountain. A glorious day and I opted for the road (or trail, less traveled) – Simmons Trail to Collier Spring, via Potrero Meadow and Barth’s Retreat instead of the more popular Cataract Trail. It’s still early for wildflowers, but I did find a couple of gems. I was most excited to find a type of orchid, the Fairy Slipper (Calypso bulbosa) near the meadow. I don’t know if it’s rare, but it’s the first one I’d seen in my six years of hiking on Tam. I’m thankful that I like hiking early, especially on a weekend in Marin. Usually I hike mid-week when the crowds are non-existent. When I pulled into the Rock Spring trailhead parking lot (Ridgecrest Blvd) at just before 8:30, I was the second car in the lot and all I could hear was birdsong in the canopy. When I came off the trail at 1:00 there were nearly a hundred cars parked and more overflowed along the roadside turnouts.

Meadow near Rock Spring trailhead

Frosted blades of grass

Dew-covered Milk maids

Simmons Trail

Manzanita shoot

Juniper berries

Upper Northside Trail

Milk maids

Fairy Slipper (Calypso bulbosa)

Turkey tails and Witches’ butter

Oyster mushroom on the Benstein Trail

Wild mushroom, Benstein Trail

Fern shoots, Benstein Trail

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About victorvolta

I am a freelance photographer/writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I grew up in the very suburban city of Santa Clara. Education: San Jose State University (class of '84) BA degree in Journalism with concentrations in Photojournalism and English. Favorite Foods: Ribeye steaks and Stan's Doughnuts (separate plates, usually). Favorite Drinks: Strong gourmet coffee and Trader Joe's Blood Orange Italian Soda (separate cups).